Mining apparatus



Sept. 30, 1952 A. LLEE MINING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 23,1946 E E. 7 N .NN J W E M Nw. G. rm. 3L. 4 Nm m MW- T fm. o9 e v mm. A@M .VU- ww. om Mi Nm UQ Q wm. U 4 w: im; hm m J m mm. u m- G o \H\W Q o.n ow. wm. D E* /\H om. N n Q W NU. S. f a m Nw. e@ G. Q m? D r@ N fha@m@ EL. s., m wm. wmf E mm T m w Nv rv am 5 Sheets-sheet 2- Filed Jan.25, 1946 .ws ms N@ Nv.

AE1-HU@ L, LEE,

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Sept. 30, 1952 Filed Jan. 25

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m4 e m A. L. LEE

MINING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Imc/lm; ARTH une L. LEE,

sept. 3o, 1952 A. L. LEE 2,612,363

MINING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 23, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gmc/vm; ARTHUR L.LEE,

w, M4K/m @muy Sept. 30, 1952 `A. l.. LEE 2,612,363

MINING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 23, 1946 5 sheets-sheet 5 ARTHUR L. LEE,

Patented Sept. 30, 1.952

2,612,363 MINING APPARATUS Arthur L. Lee, Upper Arlington, Ohio,assignor to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of OhioApplication January 23, 1946, Serial N o. 642,862

(ci. 26e- 30) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a mining machine and in the specificembodiment disclosed in detail and in its most specific aspect itrelates to a mining machine of the shortwall type. It is to beunderstood, however, that a great many of the features, aspects,combinations and subcombinations are applicable to different types ofmining machines including, by way of illustration but not limitation,longwall, longwallshortwall, or arcwall mining machines.

One object of my invention is to provide a mining machine with animproved gummer or cuttings removing mechanism, demountable incharacter, in which there is -a power take-olf provided on the miningmachine, both while the demountable cuttings removing mechanism is inplace and when it is removed.

It is another object of my4 invention to provide a, mining machine witha gummer or cuttings removing mechanism which is either removable as aunit from the machine or is built into it as a permanent part and inwhich a pump unit including a pair of spaced rotating devices, having athroat between them, is provided to effect removal of the cuttingsftheapparatus preferably being operable for reverse directions of travel ofthe cutter mechanism.

In carrying out the foregoing object, it is a further object of myinvention' to provide an improved cuttings guide means positioned toreceive cuttings propelled by the spaced rotating devices or pump unitand to convey said cuttings to a mine conveyor, the discharge end of theguide means being mounted to translate and pivot with respect to themine conveyor during operation of the mining machine. A further andmore'speciflc object of the invention is to provide an improved meansfor connecting a cuttings directing guide means, chute, or conveyor to asecond conveyor whereby said cuttings conveyor may translate and pivotwith respect to the second conveyor.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide interlocking meansbetween the gummer or cuttings removing mechanism of a mining -machine,the cutter of which is reversible, and

a reversing switch for the cutter drivingv motor,

thereby insuring that the gummer or cuttings removing mechanism willalways operate in the same direction for reverse operation of thedriving motor.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an improved,compact and highly efficient gummer or cuttings removing mecha- Otherobjects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features andcombinations being set forth in the appended claims.-

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of vashortwall type machine which incorporatesfeatures of my invention and wherein a, portion of the machine is brokenawayv to enhancethe showing of the cuttings removing or gummer thereof,the cuttings guide means, chute, f or conveyor being mounted upon amine' conveyor;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational vifiw'of a portion of the apparatus showninFig; 1';

Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional Yview of therear portion of the machinetaken substantially through the center thereof, showing particularly themachinery frame compartment and the gummer or cuttings lremovingmechanism, some parts being eliminated inA the interest ofclearness; ,l

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevational view of the mining machinepwith partsbroken away and shown invertical section; Y I

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view, with various parts omitted, showingparticularly the gummer or cuttings removing yunitA and its associationwith the cutter chain and cutter chaindrive sprocket; i

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of an electrical control portion of themachine showing operating parts of electric control switches thereof,the view being taken on the line 6 6 of Fig.- '7

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional viewc'f` the apparatus of Fig. 6, certainsections 'being taken in different planes so as to illustrate all of theoperating parts; and'-v Y f Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan View of a detailof the machine whichl is shown in dottedrlines in nism particularlyadapted for a machine of the shortwall type.

Fig. l.

This application isla. continuation inpart of my application for aMining Machine, Serial No. 586,979, filed April 6, 1945. 1 1

It is to be understoodthatVthrQughOut, the disclosure of thisapplicationA follows that of my parent application above identified,unless a contrary fact is distinctly indicatedin the drawings orspecification. f v l.

Referring particularly -to the drawings and to the shortwallmachine'whi'ch is therein disclosed and in which there is incorporatedA'the various combinations, sub-combinations, features and aspects of.my invention, it may be pointed out first that one ofthe importantconsiderations which dictates some of the structure is the overallheight of the mining machine.

Referring rst to Figs. land 2 ofthe drawby a person facing it.

, after pointed out more completely is optionally employed or omitted.

` Extending forwardly from the motor y section 4l is a kerf-cuttingmechanism-44 including an elongated cutter bar 45 which is ofsubstantially standard construction upon which there 4 and 49 and thelubrication system for all of the machinery is described in detail in myparent application, above identified, and need not again be describedhere.

Extending from the motor section ii into the machinery section 42 is theend of a hollow drive shaft `,.'Q-.vvhich i s supported atgitsI outerend on anlanti-frictionbearing E vvhich in turn is supported on a web orintegral bracket formed on the frame 42 which provides a substantiallytotal- Y ly enclosing housing for the machinery or gears frame ortherein.

Keyed adjacent the end of the shaft 59 is a [pinionBlfwhiclimeshes witha larger pinion is mounted an endless cutter chain 4'provided withremovable and reversible cutter bits4l .-As y is well known, theshortwall type of mining machine is adapted to be fed as a unit over themine `iioor while cutting a kerf, the kerf being cut by nrstsumping'the'cuttei" bar'into the' solid coal and then feeding themachine laterally or vacross the coal face, allthe'while the kerfcutting mechanism 44 is in operation. Q

VTo eiect the" feeding of the mining machine asa unit, both at a kerfcutting speed and at a `handling or higher speed'land in reversedirections, the machine includesl a pair of feed cable orrope drums` 48and '49 mounted on horizontal axes which ,are preferably inalignment,one on one side of the machine, the other on the other, `as clearlyillustrated Vin ligflof the drawings.

. Drums 48 and dgareprovided with feed ropes ,v

or cables 50 and5 l ,respectively, which are adapt- `ed to bereevedabout'the'shea'ves of similar right and left hand rear sheave assemblies52 and 53, respectively, and/or similar right and left hand front sheaveassemblies 54 and 55, respectively.

Herein it need onlybe vpointed out that the driving motor which drivesthe drums 48 and 49 tends to drive them alwaysgin the same direction,`regardless of the direction ofwrotationl of the mowtor, and thatdirection issuch that it tends always `to Wind or pull in said ropes 5B.and 55|. That is, idrum A4 8 ytends, always to be rotated by its driving`motor in a clockwise direction, as viewed by a :personv facing it, anddrum 49 tends always to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed In Fig. ,1 of the'drawings the machine is illustrated with theropes' 50 and 5| reeved about the fpulleysvij and 55 toeffectua lateralfeeding of `the machine to the left, as viewed from the rear thereof, orupward, as viewed from the drawings.

`By the mere expedient of reeving rope 5l) about `the sheave of frontassembly 54 and reeving rope A 15l about the sheave of sheave assembly53 and lmaking the necessary operating `adjustments on the machine, itmay be fed to the right, reversely v `of that illustrated in said Fig. 1of the drawings. Theshortwall mining machine illustrated is adapted torest on and slide over the mine floor E3 of the drawings-and to some ofthe machinery `or gearing which is contained within the machin- `erysection 42 which includes the drive gearing leading to the cutter chain46 'and tothe drums ,48 and 49.

The drive mechanism leading'to'vthe `drums 48 l `bearings within thehousing or frame 42.

keyed .to a shaft 63 lhaving an integral bevel pinion 64, the vshaft 63being mounted in spaced Pinion l$4 meshes with a large bevel ring gearE5, the hub of which is mounted in a roller bearing 56 carriedin abearing cup in a removable top plate 61, 4which isremovably.attached"to'the'frame 42 and forms a part 'of thee'nclo'sizrecr'housing'provided thereby. lThe hub of ring-ge'aris alsomounted on' spaced `needle bearings", 5B by which it is mounted forffree rotation o n'av vertical or upstanding shaft I69,to:the"bijttmof'wliich`a drive slpro'cketull forthe cutter "chain'fl.prvided.A f f The drivevv shaft B5 extends through `a lolein ahelevatedI integral: bottom plate TT l' df'` the' 'frame or A)section 42,ispreferablyf'forniedas a single steel casting,` and isfll'l'portedprincipally on a roller'beari'n as by machinesfcre'ws.' Y.,

YSince the sprocket. 'ill is, the atmospher'eand is llytsid vided by theenclesingfraine r sectl e" attenesentient, vthat 4the shaft 695 issupportednin Athe frame, Qr section 42 by the bearing 7 2 'at thebottornandby the combined actions vof the top bearing Se andtheneedlei-.bearnesi-S .through the intermediary of the hub 0f-1111g-fge155-f 1t *flllhll 'eli/ident from the` above.p descriptionthat there. is nota permanent 0r direct 4driving cennetioniirom the finsgear 65.110, the Shaft .69feet `@n the, Contrary :the vring seal' 65 is.free t0 rotate Qaidshaftt To support thering gearv ongthegshaft i69against downward axial movementftherelis -a thrust ball bea-ring 8 Iinterposed betweenashoul-` der on the shaftgqand theibottom of the hubvMounted concentric with lthe v ring:l gear 55 `Vand Ithe shaft 69 andkeyed fontdthe ,hub of ySaid ring gear is a bevel gear-,82. Gears and 82therefore alwaysi rotate;F together randieach Aisi directly At itsbottom portion thegcar'formsf-a driving portion of. a, jaw vclutchandris provided with ciutch dogs'3.vk Providing the driven* portion ofsaid clutch-is a shiftable lcollar'r84:havingdogs adapted to be @engaged"with 'or-"disengaged" from the dogs 83. Collar 84 isshiftable`^upwarclly and downwardly Aon the shaft 69 and'is -splinedtorkeyed thereto so that whenever it:is-fdriven',"a driving relation iseffected to said shaft SQ. A bifurcated shipperl mounted on 'a rotaryhorizontal clutch shaft Bfis -provided for' operating theclutch:s3-'1311,'whichf cmtchfbviiisiy; is'tne clutch for effecting adriving or non-"driving'relaalways ro- 'asia-sca tion with the drivingmotor shaft 59 to the kerf cutter chain 4t.Y

The operating shaft 86 is carried in appropriate bearings and isoperatively connected to a transversely extending operating shaft (notshown) which extends through the upright side walls of the frame 42 andvis provided with an operating lever and handle y9| on each side of themining machine so that the clutch for engaging and disengaging thecutter chain 46 may be operated from either side of the machine. I

Meshingfwith the bevel gear 82 is a bevel gear 92 mounted on ahorizontal longitudinally extending shaft 93 provided with an integralpower take-olf head 94, thus providing a power take-off mechanismwhereby the driving motor of' the mining machine may be employed todrive a supporting truck in a manner well understood in the art,whenever the gummer or cuttings removing mechanism 43 is not attached tothe machine. `When said gummer or cuttings removing mechanism 43 isattached to the machine, it isprovided with mechanism to derive powerfrom the power take-off 94 and in turn is provided with an extendedpower take-off so as still to provide for the truck drive.

The shaft 93 is mounted on spaced anti-friction ball bearings, one ofwhich is held in a receiving cup'or socket 95 attached to and forming infact a part of the enclosing frame or housing section 42. This recessedcup or socket 95 provides a protecting enclosure for the power take-offhead 94 and prevents this continuously rotating part being freelyexposed where it might harm an individual when rotating,

It is obvious that the head 94 is directly and permanently connected tothe drive shaft 59 so that it'always rotates -with said shaft 59 and ina direction determined by the direction of rotation thereof. The powertake-off head 94 in'- cludes' a plurality of spaced bores or holes 96adapted to receive coupling pins 91 .of an associated power receivingmechanism which may be that for driving the supporting truck for themining machineor, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, couplingpins 91 provide a connecting means to the gummer or cuttings removingmechanism 43 by way of a drive shaft 98 mounted clutching sleeves |93and |94, respectively, each mounted on a pair of spaced ball bearingswhich are carried by a driven shaft |95 which is in turn mounted on apair of spaced ball bearings, one of which is seen at |96, said spacedball bearings being supported on spaced brackets of the gummer frame 99.

Splined on the shaft |95 for sliding movement'thereon is a driven clutchsleeve or member |91 which is provided with cooperating dogs on oppositesides or faces adapted to cooperate selectively with the clutch dogs ofclutching sleeves |93 and |94. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, the clutch sleeve |91 is in its central or neutral positionwhere the gummer is disengaged, but by shifting it in oppositedirections the gummer may be driven in opposite directions relative tothe direction of rotation of the motor shaft 59. It may be stated thatin operation, the gummer is designed alwaysto rotate inthe samedirection, but since the driving shipper |98 is employed whichis-mounted on a pivot shaft |99 carried in the gummer frame 99. Asillustrated in Fig; '3 of the drawings, the shipper |98 Ahas an larmcarryingarcuate plate ||9 rhaving a central detent-cooperating with acentering spring-pressed ball the function of which is vto insurecentering and thus disengaging of the clutchfmember |91 whenever theclutch operating mechanism is moved to its neutral position.

The two' reversely rotating gears |9| and |92 mesh with a bevel gear |2that includes a stub shaft thatl interts with vand is keyed to shaft v|I3. Shaft ||3 is mounted on spaced ball bearings on a power take-offsocket or receptacle H4 formed integralv with the gummer casing 99. The

shaft ||3 is provided with a power take-olf head ||5 which is ofgenerally' similar construction to the head' 94 and is of similarfunction. That is, it provides a power take-olf by which a supportingtruck for the mining machine may be driven whenever the gummer isattached to the mining machine. The gummer 43 is removable as a completeunit, by removing a plurality of machine screws Illy (see Figs. 4 and 5)which removably attach the gummer frame 99 to the frame 42. Obviously,the coupling provided by the power take-off head 94, pins 91 and shaft99 provides av readily disconnectible driving connection from .the shaft93 to said shaft 98 of the gummer mechanism.

It may rfurther be pointed out that there is a continuous or permanentdrive between the shaft 59 and the power take-off 94 which, when thegummer is attached, also continues to the power take-off |I5, and thisgear train is uninterrupted by any clutches whatever so that when thegummer is attached the power take-off ||5 always rotates with the motorshaft 59.

Reverting toa consideration of the operating structure of. the gummerclutch, the shipper |93 is pivotally connected at its upper end (seeFigs. 3 and 4), to a connecting box provided at the center of a: springcentered shaft |29 carried in a laterally shiftable frame |2| to' whichan adjustable operating rod |22 is adjustably but rigidly connected. Thespring held shaft |29 is normally held at a predetermined position withrespect to the frame |2| by a pair of spaced centering springs |23 andconsequently when the frame |2| is shifted to the right or left from itsneutral or clutch disengaging position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, theoperating shaft |29 will normally move with it to effect either of thereverse driving Aconnections to the gummer shaft|95.

vThe dogs of the clutch members |93, |94 and |91 are .preferably beveledand thus provide a safety throw-out mechanism in case of any over--yyloading of the gummer and this safety throw-out' vmechanism is eectedby compressing one of thel springs |23 and thus moving the shaft |29with respect to the frame I2 l, even though said frame unl .isihgelainf-ennemi iheclutch .eneaeine..;rei

The operating roV |22isV pivotallyf connected to a pivoted gummerclutchoperatingfleven |24 (seelr'iefs-V landl.. which iS,pr0vi.dd;.lV.th a spring-pressed ball or pin adaptedto V cooperate withany one of three dentsin ra dent plate- |25 and thus frictionallyholdthe operating lever |24 in its clutch disengaging position or..either of its Vreverse clutch I engaging positions.`|- Ijhere is aninterlock mechanism also connectedtothe pivoted lever |24 which isdescribed in detail hereinafter and which yI Jrovides aninterlockbetween said lever `and the reversing switch ofthe driving motor ofthe.mining.niachinef The preyiouslyjd'escribed shaft |05 ,drives a pairof reversely rotating'sweeping, conveying, pumping or feeding devices'whichare laterally spaced apart and substantially equidistantonoppos'ite sides of the longitudinal centralaxsof the machine, the twosweeping devicesbeingof similar construction, one of them being shown insection in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the otherbeing partly shown inelevation therein. Likewise, in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, 'one of these,devices is yshown. in section andthe ,otherlin plan.

Since the two sweeping devices'are similar, a detailed description Aofone will apply to bothand similar 'reference characters are employedforthe detailed parts. For ,identification purposes the one on the right,asviewedfromthe rear of the machine, is designatedwl'26 and the oneonthejieft |21.. Each. sweeping .device 12.6.1121 isdriyen bevel inspaced anti-friction bearingson' appropriate portions of the frame 99 ofthe gummer 43;

At its lower end the shaft is provided with an integralA disc-shapedhead I3| which is the head or top plate of a sweeping mechanism |26 or|21, as the case may be. Extending downwardly from each head |3| is acylinder or drum |32 which is preferably yopen at the bottom and theaxis of which is substantially along the axis of the shaft |30 and isvertical.`

The gummer frame 99 4includes a bottom plate |33 whichvat the back isprovided with an upwardly curved edge and which at the front terminatesjust behind the path of travelV of the cutter bits 41. Extendingupwardly from and rigidly attached to the bottom plate |33 is a post orshaft |34 for each of the sweeping devices |26 and-|21, the axis of thepost or shaft |34 beingeccentric with respect to the axis of the drum|32 and shaft |30. Mounted for free rotation on each post or shaft |34is a plurality of blades |35, each provided with an integralbracket |36which provides the aforesaid pivotal connection to thepin or post 34.

The periphery of each drum |32 is .provided with a plurality of verticalslots |31, there being one for each blade |35. A bladeV projects througheach of the slots |31 and as the drums It is thus vevident that byrotating the two drumsY |32 of the sweeping mechanism |26 and |21 sothat sweeping mechanism |26 rotates counter-clockwise and sweepingmechanism" |21 i8 rotatesclockwise, as viewed iii-Fig. 5 of thedrawings, the cuttings which are delivered-Lto the rear of the machineby the cutter chain 46 and bits- 41 f will be swept through the throatformed between the two sweeping devices bythe combination rotating andreciprocating blades |35 and be swept, conveyed, pushed,pumpedforimpelled out ofthe rear of the gummeror of the. mining machineand thus entirely out of yits path of-travel. As best seen in Fig-dofvthe drawings, alongitudinal axis through the mining machine will passdown the center of the machine-throughthe shaft-63 and the cuttingswwillbey guidedinta the paths .of -theblades 4|35 `byguide members |38whichare formed rigidlwith the gummer frame 99 andact to Adirectzthecuttingsgintothe path of the sweeping. mechanisms .|26 and'l21. Guidemembers |38 are provided with slots|39v in their outerv` upright-platesso'` that the gumrner may be slid forwardly andgu'idedinto place, with apin v4|4|l`being received by'ea'ch'slot |39, the'two pins |40 onopposite sides of the machine being rigidly attachedto anuprightpartition of the'frame member 42. .1,

'As clearlyA illustrated also in Fig. 5 ofthe draw.- ings', each blade|35 reciprocat'es relative to its associated drum |32 between maximumVand minimum extensions beyond theface'of'the drum, the minimumextension' being when th'c'eplate' has justlpassed itsrearmost positionrelative tolthe gummer 43; The maximum position ofthe 'blade |35 issubstantially that illustrated for the forw'ardly` extendingA blade |35of' the.. sweeping mechanism |21jand this, of course,occur`s when thecentral vertical plane of the blade .passes through the axes of the postV|34'and the shaft |30. It is'further evident by reference to Fig. 5that theblades of the 'sweeping devices |26 and |21 are staggered; thatis, a blade |35 of each sweeping device |26 and |21 is positionedsubstantially midway between two blades of the other so 'that blades |35of the sweeping devices |26 and 21 successively sweep over the centralor sweeping pathway between the drums'of the sweeping devices |26 and|21. Because 'of this fact, they can overlap or, in other words', 4sweepover at least some common portion of theplate |33'.

A spreviously mentioned, thesweeping devices |26 and |21 arealways'intended to rotate in the same directions so as to sweep thecutting-s by positive action from the front to the rear, as indicated bythe arrows in Fig. 5. This gummer, however, acts with equal facility.regardless of the direction of rotation of vthe chain 46 and the bits41. In Fig. 5 arrows indicate a counterclockwise rotation of the drivesprocket 1|).v However, in operationv the bits 41 maybe reversed and thechain 46 likewise reversed whenever the lateral feeding direction of themining machine is changed.y

Obviously, due to the symmetrical arrangement of the gummer, includingthe guide members |38, it will operate with equal facility regardless ofthe direction of rotation of the sprocket 10 and the `direction oftravel of the cutter chain 46. Sincev the same motor drives both thesprocket 1|) andthe gummer, it is, of course, necessary to provide thegummer reversing clutch |03, |04, |01, above described, and interlockingmechanism, hereinafter described, is provided te insure that the gummersweeping devices |26 and |21 willy always rotate in the properdirection. i It may be further pointed out that as the ten.. sion andslack runs of the cutter chain 46 travel rearwardly along the bottom ofthe mining machine, as described more completely hereinafter, thecuttings will be guided largely by a pair of similar guide ribs |4|.These ribs |41 areactually integral parts ofthe frame -sections 4| and42 and the parts integralwith-eachof said sections 4| and 42 act ascontinuations of the partsof the other. As a matter of fact,reverting-to Fig. 5, the portions of the -frame 42. to which the pins|40 are connected,vare parts of .the-guide ribs |4|, as there indicated.1- Y As wasy previously mentioned, an interlock is provided between thereversing switch of the motor |54 4and the gummer 43 to insurel thatsaid gummer will always discharge thecuttings rearwardly through itscentral throat for reverse operation of said motor. Figs. 6 and 7 showcertain portions of the motor control and reversing mechanism whichsuffice for an understanding of the operation thereof and the abovementioned interlock. I f

Mounted man appropriate compartment'on the rear right hand side ofthemotor section 4| is a motor reversing drum/M6 which is provided with anoperating shaft 4|1andyreversinglever 4| 8. Positioned below thedrum.4|.6 is a motor switch 4|9 provided with an operating cam 428 whichmay :be operated .from one side of themachine by a switch lever 42| andshaft 422, or from the opposite side of the machine by a similarlylocated lever which is connected by way of a crossrod 423 lwhich in turnis connected to the shaft 422 by a linkage mechanism 424.

Carried by the shaft 422 is a swinging arm 425 which extendsinto anopening of a latch pin 428 which extends slightly through a guide v42'!carried on a switch mounting plate 428. The vlatch pin 426 cooperateswitha cam 429 whichfis'attached rigidly with the shaft `4| 1 and itprevents rotation-of` sa'id'shaft 4|'| and thus prevents'operation ofthe reversing drum 4|6, except when the motor. switch cam y42|) isvswung to motor switch opening position, inI which case the latch pin 426is moved out of the path of ,the cam--429 and permits it to be moved toa reverse'position.

Also mounted on the drum operating shaft 4H drawings, it will be seenthat connected to the vis inone of its reverse operating positions.A

With the rod 438 in this one position, it-isonly possible to move thegummer clutch lever |24 in a; clockwise position as this is permittedbyv a notch 44| in rod 438 into which one projection of a U-shaped yoke442 may freely extend. Re-

` verse'operation'of the lever |24 from its neutral is an upwardlyextending,v arm 43|)fwhlchA at its upper end carries aroller` 43received in-v an.` elongated opening in an operating clip 432 which iscarried on a transversely extending `rod 433 which extends to theopposite sideof the machine and is operated b'yvafleverv generallysimilar in position and construction to lever 4|8.

Also extending lthrough the wall or plate through which shafts `4|?y and422 extend, there is an operating shaft 434vwhich on its inner endcarries a rigidly ,attached downwardly extending arm435 which isbifurcatedat its'bottom and extends about a roller 435 mounted on apivot pin carried :by the arm 430. Outside ,said casing the shaft 434 isprovided with a rigidly attached lever 431 connected to ai transverselyextending rod 438 (see Figs. 1, 3, 7 'and 8) ofthe interlock mechanismbetweenv the" reversing switch including drum 4|.8, andthe gummer 43. li

It is obvious that if the operating shaft 4H is rotated to one positionto cause rotation ofthe motor |54 inrone-direction,therod 438iwil1 beshifted to one position through the interconnection provided by arm 430,roller'436, arm 435, shaft 434 and lever 431. If the motor reversingswitch is moved to a reverse directionbyrotation ofthe shaft. 4 aresponsive swinging movement of the'lever'431 will take place to shiftthe rod 438. y

Referring particularly toFigs. 1 and 8 ofthe -position is prevented, forif attempted the left hand arm of yoke 442 would contact the adjacentside of rod 438 and prevent such clutch engaging movement. On the otherlhand,- if the motor switch isv reversed, this will produceupwardmovementof the rod 438 from theposition .illustrated in Fig. 8,whereupon a notch 443 there.-

ofwill only permit counterclockwise or .reverse movement of the clutchoperating lever |24 from the neutral position.

Furthermore, the interlock provided: by the structure of Fig. 8 willprevent reversal of the motor reversing switch 4|6, 4|'| exceptwhen the.gummer clutchI is in its neutral position, for when said gummerclutchis ineither of its operating positions, there will be one arm ofthe yoke442 received in a notch 44| or 443 which will lock the rod 438and thus'lock said motor reversing switch inposition.

Fromthe above description, it is evident that the disclosed machine isof low overall height and thus meets requirements of thin seammining.Furthermore, the machine is one which meets the requirements :ofconveyor mining, particularly wherein a face conveyor is employeddirectly behind the mining machine. The controls'for the machine arelocated on the sides vand-'are substantially duplicated on each side.The location of the controls at the sides is` also desirable,particularly where the gummer' or cuttings revmover is attached and thisdevice may either be attached or detached, or, in other words, themachine may be built with or without it and if built with it, lit may besubsequently removed.

,Interlock mechanism is providedfso that the gummer or cuttings removerwill always discharge cuttings to the rear, regardless of the directionof rotation of the motorv or of the cutter chain. Sincethe machine isdesigned to cut by movement either to the right or to the left, this -isan important feature.

The gummer or cuttings removing device acts to gather cuttingsvdeliveredto the rear of the machine by the cutter chain 48 and toconvey said cuttings rearwardly with equal facilityv for reversedirections of travel of said .cutter chain. This gummer acts to conveythe vcuttings rearwardly through a restricted throat by positive orpumping action; thus itvwllcreate a force-or pressuresuflicient to impelor move the material rearwardly from the machine.

Referring again to Figs. land 2, an important part of my inventionresides in the cuttings removal mechanism for conveying cuttings fromthe mining machine and discharging theml linto a mine conveyor forremoval from the'mine. In the lembodiment of my invention illustrated,`the cuttings conveyor mechanism includes a funnel or material directingchute |50'that is 'secured to upright members which are' formed Yas anintegral part of the bottom plate I 33 of the glimmer or cuttingsremoval mechanism. y A The funnel or! material directing chute |50 isformed to include a rearwardly extending lip |52 to which a generallyhorizontally extending flexible tube, conduit-or cuttings directingguide |53 of a follower conveyor |55 issecured'. '-The''exible tube |53maybe formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner, butherein I have shown it as being-formedffa resilient corrugated materialwhich is reinforced Vby a helical metal coil |54 which causes itto-retain its shape. The rear or discharge' end"ofAthe'-tube |53 of thefollower conveyor |55 is mounted upon a truck or rack |56 which in turnis mounted upon and follows or translates along a mine con- -veyor |51`during operation of the min-ing- --machine; Whilethe truck. orrackv. |56-of vtl'iefol- -`lower conveyor-.155 may-be secured tothe-mine conveyor'-in. any -suitable lmanner to translate -therealong, Ipreferably--formmhe sidewalls |58 of themine' conveyor |51 -toinclude'a-pai-rof outwardly extending lips ori flanges 59 one of lwhichextends alon'geach 'side and/throughout the length thereof. Theseflanges are adapted to receive rollers` |60 and -|6| of Ifthe truck or41a(;1{4|56,1....L' 1 l i l .M'Ihe Ytruck or rackA |56 Lin cludes'abcdplate'v or slide .|62ffrom whicha ba'ror beam=| 63-1 extends across':the-` openitop ofdi thefmine conveyor @and 4upon -the A end of whiclris'mountedlthe roller- |160. Roller |60 isa doublelanged spool that fitsand -rolls along a lip |59 ofthe mine fconveyor. The bed plate or slide|62 rides uponitheupper 'sur- -Yfaceofthe other 'lip. |59 of tha-mine"conveyor hand carries-a pair of spaced-rollersinlthe for-m .of- 'singleiianged spools 1| 6| vwhich-are' adapted -to :engage a lip |59 of theconveyor, as-herein'after Udescribed. A ring lvor mount |64 on the endof'the tubev |53 -is secured to fthe'top of'thebed-plate |62fand centrallythereofz f if w1: FIn operation,l the' bed `plate Ior slide- |62-rests-upon..a top-edge of the'mine conveyorandis retained thereon bythe pulloffthe exible -tube |53 and the roller |60 on the end of the bar orbeamv |63 which engages the lip |59 over-which the bar-|63 extends. vThemining machine in cutting' akerf moves substantially parallel tothe mineconveyor and pulls or cau'ses the follower conveyor |55 to' translatealongthe mine'fconveyor |51. The rollers 'liiengage the 'adjacentflanges |59 tof the mine conveyorfto limit the Vpivotal movement ofthetru'ck or rack |56 about the roller |60 and to securethe' truck tothe mine conveyor. i i I The cuttings that are ejected from theminingmachine bythe gummer or cuttings removing mechanism are thrown, forcedor pumped rearwardlythrough the tube |53 ofthe follower conveyor and aredeposited in the mine conveyor |51... `The tube |53 may -be comprised oftwo or more sections .joined together to'accommodate it to' variousmining conditions and positions of the .mine` conveyor with respect tothe mining machine. The internal diameter of the tube |53 alsopreferably tapers or progressively increases outwardly.v slightly from`the mining machine to prevent material from becoming packed therein. Inthe past, the practice prevalent in disposing of the cuttings from suchmining machines was to station a miner adjacentthe exhaust port of themachine to shovel the cuttings out of the 'path of the 'miningoperations, and from the foregoing it will be' seen that I have providedan improved cuttings directing mechanism that connects the cuttingsremoving means of the mining 5 machine wi-thf'a'mne conveyor fordirecting and yconveying the cuttings propelled from the positive actingcuttings vpumping mechanism. The mechanism is of extremely simpleconstruction and requires little or no attention from the mining machineoperator since the truck or rack |56 follows the mine conveyor |51 andis moved or Vpulledtlierealoig by the 'mining machine.

' The follower conveyor is readily removed from the' mine cor,iveyo'rwithout the use of tools by pivotingtljie bed, plate |62 about theroller |66 'untilfthe rolle'r'il6l becomes disengaged suhiciently fromvthe flange |59 that it is adapted to engage and then by moving thefollower conveyor to disengage the roller |60 from the ange |58 withwhich it is associated and then lifting the follower conveyor upwardlyfrom the mine conveyor. Itfv'villlo'e'^'see,nV that the followerconveyor may ,be installed 'upon the mine conveyor from either sidethereof, since'the mine conveyor is symmetrical bin cross section.

Obviously those skilledl in the art may make various changes'J inthedetails and r`arrangement of parts without departing from' the spiritand scope of theinvyention"as'ldened by the claims hereto' appendedpandIthereforewish notto be restricted to the'precle construction hereindisclosed.y Y

Having .thus described and Vshownan embodiment of myjnvention, what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. `In`a miningmachina the combinati-on with a frame, of a reversiblemotor mounted thereon, kerf cutting mechanism' connected tosaid frameincluding lan endless cutter chain and drive sprocket, cuttingsremovingmechanism located adjacent said cutter chain and drivevsprocketinycluding a pair oflaterally spaced rotating drums havingAblades which reciprocate relative to said drums ands'weep the cuttingsrearwardly, reversing gearing'intercionnecting said reversible motor`ands'aidL cuttings removing mechanism to drive it including reversinggearing'whereby said cuttings removing mechanism will always be drivenin the same direction for reverse directions of rotation of said motor,rreversing switch mechanism for reversing the direction of rotation ofsaid motor,l and interlocking mechanism between said motorreversing'm'echanism and said cuttings removing mechanism reversinggearing to require that the cuttings removing mechanism be always drivenin the samedirection, as aforesaid.

2. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a reversiblemotor mounted thereon, kerf cutting mechanismgconnected to said frameincluding van endless cutter chain and drive sprocket, cuttings removingmechanism located adjacent said cutter chain and drive sprocket,reversing gearing interconnecting said reversible motor and saidcuttings removing mechanism to drive it including reversing gearingwhereby said cuttings removing mechanism will always be driven in thesame direction for reverse directions 70 of rotation ofA said motor,reversing switch mechanism for reversing the direction of rotation ofsaid'motor, and interlocking mechanism between said motor reversingmechanism and'said cuttings removing mechanism reversing gearing torequire that the cuttings removing mechanism be always driven in thesame direction, as aforesaid. A

3. In a mining machine, the combinati-on with a reversible motor,reversiblev control mechanism for said motor, a driven cuttings removingmember adapted to be driven inl one direction' only, gearinginterconnecting said-motor anddriven cuttings removing member includingreversing gearing, reverse operating means for said reverse gearing,means interlocking said reversible motor. control mechanism and saidreverse operating means whereby said driven cuttings removing member isalways driven in the samefdirection lwhen operated, said interlockingmeans including a rod having spaced notches on opposite sides andoperated by said reversible control mechanism, and a cooperating forkedmember connected to said reverse operating means for said reversinggear, said forked member fitting said notched rod and being insertableselectively into said spaced notches by reverse movements thereof.

4. In aminingl machine, the combination with operated by said reversiblecontrol mechanism, vand a cooperating forked member connected to saidreverse operating means for said reversing gear, said forked membertting said notched rod` and being insertable selectively into saidspaced notches by reverse movements thereof..

5. In a mining machine, the combination with a reversible motor,reversible control mechanism for said motor, a driven cuttings removingmember adapted to be driven in one direction only, gearinginterconnecting said motor and driven cuttings removing member includingreversing gearing, reverse operating means for said reverse gearing, andmeans interlocking said reversible motor control mechanism and saidreverse operating means whereby said driven cuttings removing member isalways driven in the same direction when operated.

6. In a mining machine, the combination with a reversible motor,reversible control mechanism for said motor, a driven member adapted tobe driven in one direction only, gearing interconnecting said motor anddriven member including reversing gearing, reverse operating means forsaid reverse gearing, and means interlocking said reversible motorcontrol mechanism and said reverse operating means whereby said drivenmember is always driven in the same direction when operated.

7. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless kerfcutting chain mechanism mounted to run on said frame,` a sprocket fordriving said chain, a removable cuttings removing attachment positionedadjacent said sprocket and chain for removing cuttings from said frame,said attachment including a pair of spaced rotatable devices constructedand arranged to gather cuttings from said chain as it travels aroundsaid sprocket and convey the cuttings between said devices and ejectthem from said machine, and spaced cuttings guides on said y14 frameadapted to guide cuttingsv to said rotatable devices, said guides alsocooperating with said frame to guide said, attachment into position forattachment thereto.

8. In a, mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endlesskerf cutting chain mechanism mounted to run on said frame, a spocket fordriving said chain, means positioned adjacent said spocket and chain for,removing cuttings from said frame, said means including a pair ofspaced rotatable devices constructed and arranged to gather cuttingsfrom said chain as it travels around said sprocket and convey thecuttings between said devices, a flexible tubular guide means disposedto receive cuttings from between said rotatable devices, and carriagemeans supporting the discharge end of said guide means and mounted tofollow a. mine conveyor whereby said guide means translates along anddischarges cuttings into said mine conveyor during operation of themining machine.

9. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless kerfcutting chain mechanism mounted to run on said frame, a spocket fordriving said chain, means positioned adjacent said sprocket and chainfor removing cuttings from said frame, said means including a pair ofspaced rotatable devices constructed and arranged to gather cuttingsfrom said chain as it travels around said sprocket and convey thecuttings between said devices, a guide means disposed to receivecuttings from between said rotatable devices, a mine conveyer, and truckmeans pivotally mounting the discharge end of said guide means on saidmine conveyer and riding said mine conveyor whereby the discharge end ofsaid guide means may translate along said mine conveyor and pivot withrespect theretoduring operation of the mining machine.

10, In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endlesskerf cutting chain mechanism mounted to run on said frame, a spocket fordriving said chain, means positioned adjacent said sprocket and chainfor removing cuttings from said frame, said means including a pair ofspaced rotatable devices constructed and` arranged to gather cuttingsfrom said chain as it travels around said sprocket and convey thecuttings between said devices, a resilient longitudinally extendabletubular guide means disposedto receive cuttings from between saidrotatable devices, a mine conveyer, and truck means pivotally mountingthe discharge end of said guide means.

on said mine conveyer and riding said mine conveyor whereby thedischarge end of said guide means may translate along said mine conveyorand pivot with respect thereto during operation of the mining machine.l

11. In apparatus of the class described, a cuttings removing mechanismincluding a pump mechanism constructed andarranged to gather cuttingsfrom a kerf cutter, a tapered longitudinally extendable cuttings guidetube arranged to receive cuttings pumped by said pump mechanism anddirect and discharge said cuttings into a mine conveyor as conveyedsolely by said pump mechanism, and truck means pivotally mounting thedischarge end of said guide tube on said mine conveyer and riding saidmine conveyor whereby said guide tube may translate along and pivot withrespect to said mine conveyor as said kerf cutter cuts a kerf.

ARTHUR L. LEE.

(References on following page) le lof this 'patenti UNITED lsTA'ljEslATENTs y Jaggard k v Oct. 31, 1933 Number Number Name f f Date BeckApr. 2, 1935 Philip Sept. 1.9, 1939 Mashon .f Feb, 9, 1943 AMcCulloughMay. 25, 1943 Saville May 2 5, 1943 Jelrey Oct. 3, 1944 Osgood Feb. 5,1946 Simmons Aug. 31, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Sept.16, 1931 Germany' f Mar. 14, 1934

